Solution injection means for drycleaning and laundry tumble drying and deodorizing machines

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for injecting sizing and similar textile treatment solutions into a tumbler clothes drycleaning machine, or the like. The treatment material is injected in mist form into the vacant space in the rotary drum of the machine by a stationary nozzle located to register with a slot in the flange of the rotating drum, the nozzle having a valve which is automatically operated by a cam located on the drum flange adjacent the slot.

United States Patent inventor Alva G. Arbogast Box 1193, Charleston, W. Va. 25324 888,652

Dec. 29, 1969 June 8, 1971 App]. No. Filed Patented SOLUTION INJECTION MEANS FOR DRYCLEANING AND LAUNDRY TUMBLE DRYING AND DEODORIZING MACHINES 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 68/5C,

68/20, 68/58 Int. Cl. D06c 1/00, D06f 39/08 Field of Search 68/5 C, 58, 20, 207

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,450 9/1963 Janson 68/5CX 3,338,072 8/1967 Brillet 68/58X 3,401,052 9/1968 Benger et al 68/58X 3,443,406 5/1969 Wolverton et ai. 68/58 Primary Examiner-William ll Price Attorney-Robert G. McMorrow ABSTRACT: Apparatus for injecting sizing and similar textile treatment solutions into a tumbler clothes drycleaning machine, or the like. The treatment material is injected in mist form into the vacant space in the rotary drum of the machine by a stationary nozzle located to register with a slot in the flange of the rotating drum, the nozzle having a valve which is automatically operated by a cam located on the drum flange adjacent the slot.

PATENTED-JUN 8am 3583180 SHEET 1 OF 2 I INVENTOR fi m 6, HRBOGAST BY M'MW ATTORNEY SOLUTION INJECTION MEANS FOR DRYCLEANING AND LAUNDRY TUMBLE DFAYING AND DEODORIZING MACHINES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fabric treating apparatus, and more particularly to an attachment for a dryclcaning machine to inject sizing solution or similar material into the rotating drum of a drycleaning machine of the tumbler type.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for restoring sizing or applying similar material in mist form to clothes being drycleaned in a machine of the rotating tumbler type, the apparatus being simple in construction, being easy to install, and being reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved injection apparatus for introducing material in mist form into the rotating drum of a drycleaning machine or into the rotating drum of a similar textile handling machine, the apparatus involving relatively few parts, being easy to maintain in operating condition, and providing efficient and economical utilization of the injected material.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary front elevational view of a typical drycleaning machine provided with material injection apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the rotary drum of the machine of FIG. 1, showing the injection slots and earns forming part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lie 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line M of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the fluid flow system and the electrical circuit of the material injection apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drycleaning process, as now performed, removes most of the original sizing and textile treatment from clothing. The loss of fabric treatment causes poor appearance of the dry cleaned garment; also the feel" or hand" does not compare with the feel or hand of the garment when it was new.

Most drycleaners add sizing to the drycleaning solvent during the wash cycle. This restores some of the lost fabric treatment, but most of the added sizing, etc., is caught and held by the drycleaning solvent filter.

Textile or garment treatment of this type should be done after the garments are removed from the drycleaning solvent. The proper place to do this is in the drying and deodorizing tumbler dryer machine. The drycleaning industry recognizes this fact, and has made some attempts to solve the problem by expedients such as spraying the sizing solution into a rotating tumbler through the center of its door or by feeding the sizing solution through the drum axle and into the tumbler ribs. These expedients have proven to be ineffective for the followmg reasons:

I. Spraying the solution into a tumbler through the center of the machine door cannot evenly saturate all garments in the machine. The garment load next to the door and nozzle gets most of the treating solution, with just a small amount reaching the clothing in the rear.

2. The method of feeding a solution to a tumbler through the cylinder axle and into the tumbler ribs is both mechanically expensive and presents a problem in the maintenance of rotating seals in the shaft that supports the tumbler cylinder.

3. The rotating tumbler cylinder turns on a horizontal axis, thus causing the garment load to climb up the rising side of the cylinder and fall from the top of the cylinder towards the cylinder bottom. This causes a vacant space to appear in the cylinder approximately 30 off the top centerline of the cylinder.

The apparatus of the present invention makes use of this vacant space to receive charges of the desired solution in a vaporized form, the vaporized solution being then diffused through the rotating and tumbling garment load. By this method, every piece of the garment load is exposed equally to the solution vapor. Also, no treating solution is lost other than a trace amount carried out by the machine airflow. The airflow within a tumbler is from the heating section on top, downward through the vacant space, downward through the garment load on the bottom half of the cylinder, into the exhaust fan, and out to the atmosphere. The only air to bypass the garment load goes around the cylinder outer perimeter, but this amount of bypassing is of no practical concern.

As will presently become apparent, a principal novel feature of the present invention is the injection of atomized solution through a slot or slots in the face flange of the rotating cylinder into the vacant space caused by the fall of the garment load. (This vacant space results from the combined ef fects of centrifugal force and gravitational force acting on the garment load, with the gravitational pull being strong enough to cause the garment load to fall away from the top of the cylinder).

A typical procedure to alter an existing dry cleaning machine in accordance with the present invention includes the following principal steps:

I. The front casing is removed from the machine.

2. Two slots are cut in the exposed flange of the cylinder. The slots typically may be arcuate, coaxial with the cylinder, and 1 inch wide and 6 inches long. The two slots are cut diametrically opposite each other to provide two injections per cylinder revolution 3. An elongated cam is mounted on the cylinder flange near and parallel to each slot.

b 4. A roller-type switch is mounted on the casing in a position to be actuated by the cams.

5. A nozzle is mounted on the casing adjacent the switch in a position to discharge into a slot when the switch is operated. The switch controls a solenoid valve associated with the nozzle. A cam will operate the switch each time a slot comes into registry with the nozzle, thus timing the opening of the valve with the proper positioning of the slots.

The switch, valve and nozzle are mounted on a supporting plate which is secured over a hole cut in the machine casing at a position corresponding to the vacant space in the tumbler. The vacant space always appears at a point 30 past the vertical centerline in the direction of rotation of the tumbler, and the casing holes are cut at these points, (one for each of the two possible directions of rotation of the tumbler). The nozzle of each assembly employed at these holes is located at the same radial distance as the longitudinal center lines of the slots, assuring exact blowing of the solution into a slot whenever it passes the injection-atomizing assembly employed for the particular direction of rotation of the tumbler.

Referring to the drawings, II designates a drycleaning machine having a rotary drying cylinder 12 provided with a front flange 13. Garments to be dried can be loaded into the cylinder through the conventional circular doorway 14 which is provided with the circular hinged door 15, said door being hinged at 16 to the front wall 17 of the casing of the machine.

In accordance with the present invention, two diametrically opposite arcuate slots 18,I8 are cut in the flange 13, located at common radial distances from the axis of rotation of the cylinder 12, said slots being concentric with the cylinder and being, for example, l inch wide and 6 inches long, as above mentioned. The slots are covered by screens 19 of suitable wire mesh or of other suitable foraminous material.

Secured on flange l3 inwardly adjacent to and parallel to the slots 18 are respective arcuate cams 20,20 said cams each having inclined end portions 21,2l with a flat crest portion 22 therebetween which is substantially angularly coextensive with the adjacent slot 18, relative to the cylinder axis. The cams 20,20 are secured to the flange 13 at the same radial distance from said axis.

The front wall l7 of the machine casing is formed with respective apertures 23 located at positions spaced 30 angularly on opposite sides of the vertical central plane containing the rotary cylinder axis, namely, in positions corresponding to respective radial planes spaced 30 on opposite sides of the vertical central plane. Hinged to the front wall 17 of the casing are respective cover plates 24,24 adapted to overly and cover the apertures 23. Mounted on each cover plate is a solenoid valve 25 provided with a horizontal inwardly extending spray nozzle 26 located in the radial plane and located substantially at the same radial distance from the cylinder rotary axis as the slots 18.

The nozzle orifices are located relatively close to the plane of the flange 13, as shown in H0. 3, so that they can inject atomized sizing solution, or similar material, into the slots when in registry therewith.

Also mounted on the cover plates 24,24 are respective roller-operated switches 27,27, each having a horizontal plunger provided with inwardly projecting spaced parallel arms 28,28 between which is journaled a roller 29 located in the associated 30 radial plane and at the same radial distance from the cylinder rotary axis as the cams 20. The rollers 29 are cammingly engageable with the earns 20 when the cover plates are in their closed operative positions, whereby the switches 27 will be closed simultaneously with the registration of the nozzles 26 with the slots 18.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover plates may be hinged to vertically aligned lugs 30,30 projecting from casing wall 17 and may be provided at their free margins opposite the hinged margins thereof with outwardly projecting latch bars 31 which are engageable by respective latch levers 32 pivoted to lugs 33 projecting from wall 17. The latch levers are provided with abutment collars 34 which are engageable with resilient L- shaped latch springs 35 secured to casing wall 17. Each latch spring 35 has an outwardly projecting arm formed with spaced locking corrugations 36 and 37. With the abutment collar 34 engaged in the innermost corrugation 36, the associated lever 32 holds the adjacent cover plate in fully closed position. In this fully closed position, the associated switch roller 29 is operatively engageable with the cams 20. With the abutment collar 34 engaged in the outennost corrugation 37, the associated switch roller 29 is held in a nonengsgeable position relative to said earns 20. This permits the cover plates to be at times latched in nonoperative almost closed positions, or at other times to be swung to either fully opened positions or to be latched in fully closed positions.

The cover plates are provided on their inner surfaces with sealing gaskets 38 of resilient deformable material adapted to sealingly engage the wall 17 around the margins of apertures 23 when the cover plates are locked in their fully closed positions, as in FIG. 7.

The above-described arrangement permits the cover plates to be swung at times to fully opened positions away from the machine casing, for inspection, cleaning, or repair of the parts of the injector or switch units carried thereby.

Referring to FIG. 8, the solution 40 to be injected is contained in a suitable tank or reservoir 41. Said tank or reservoir 41 is connected through a conduit 42 and a pump 43 to branch conduits 44 and 44', which are in turn connected through the respective valves 25 carried on the cover plates 24 and 24' to the associated spray nozzles 26.

The valves 25 have respective energizing circuits connected to a pair of supply wires 45 and 46 through the roller switches 27, these circuits being selectively enabled to be energized in accordance with the selected direction of rotation of the tumbler cylinder 12. Thus, the windings of the solenoid valves 25 are connected at one terminal to the common supply wire 45 and are respectively connected at their other terminals through the roller switches 27 to the opposite stationary contacts 47,47 associated with a pole 48 of a reversing relay 49 operated by the conventional reversing control circuit of the machine. Thus, the correct injector valve 25 will be automatically rendered operable in accordance with the selected direction of rotation of cylinder 12.

The pump 43 may be either manually controlled (for example, by a manually operated switch in its motor energizing circuit) or may be interconnected with the machine control circuit so as to become energized automatically responsive to starting the machine.

When the apparatus is installed on a nonreversing tumbler machine, only one injection assembly, comprising cover plate 24 and the parts mounted thereon, is employed, located 30 off the vertical centerline in the direction of cylinder rotation.

ln operation, as slot 18 moves into registry with a nozzle 26, the roller 29 of the associated switch 27 engages the cam 20 subjacent the slot and energizes the associated solenoid valve 25. The sizing or other textile treatment solution is thus supplied under the pressure generated by the pump 43 to the nozzle and is injected in atomized condition from the nozzle orifice into the vacant space in the cylinder through the slot 18 and diffuses evenly through the garments in the cylinder. As the slot moves past the nozzle 26 sufficiently so as to no longer register therewith, the associated roller 29 disengages from the cam 20 and deenergizes the valve 27, cutting off the supply of treatment solution. In the typical arrangement illustrated in the drawings, two injections of textile treatment solution are provided for each revolution of the cylinder.

It will be readily apparent that other than electrically operated types of valve assemblies may be employed if so desired. Thus, an air-operated valve assembly may be employed instead of an electrically operated solenoid valve 25. Instead of the roller switches 27, the pilot valve stems of such air-operated valve may be engaged by the earns 20, the pilot valve stems being provided with contact rollers similar to the rollers 29. Similarly, other types of mechanically operated valves, such as spring-biased trip valves, may be employed in place of the solenoid valves 27.

While a specific embodiment of a solution-injection means for a drycleaning machine has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a clothes processing machine, a rotating clothes tumbler cylinder, said cylinder being formed with an injection aperture spaced from the cylinder axis, an inwardly directed injection nozzle mounted on the machine substantially at the same radial distance from the tumbler cylinder axis as said aperture and being at times registrable with said injection aperture during the rotation of said cylinder, a source of textile treatment solution under injection pressure, and means to communicatively connect said source to said nozzle responsive to the registration of said injection aperture with said nozzle, whereby to spray textile treatment solution into the cylinder.

2. The clothes processing machine of claim 1, and wherein the means to communicatively connect the source to the nozzle includes a valve, and means to open said valve when the nozzle registers with the aperture.

3. The clothes processing machine of claim 1, and wherein said nozzle is located in a radial plane at a substantial angle beyond the vertical plane of the axis of rotation of the tumbler cylinder in the direction of rotation of the cylinder.

4. The clothes processing machine of claim 3, and wherein said angle is approximately 30.

5. The clothes processing machine of claim 2, and wherein the means to open said valve comprises a cam on the tumbler cylinder and valve-opening follower means on the machine operatively connected to said valve and located to engage said cam when the nozzle registers with said injection aperture.

6. The clothes processing machine of claim 5, and wherein said cam is located adjacent said injection aperture.

7. The clothes processing machine of claim 5, and wherein said tumbler cylinder is provided with a front annular flange, said injection aperture being located in said flange and said cum being mounted on said flange.

8. The clothes processing machine of claim 7, and wherein said aperture comprises an arcuate slot coaxial with the cylinder and said cam is located adjacent and substantially parallel to said slot.

9. The clothes processing machine of claim 8, and wherein said cam is substantially ungularly coextensive with said slot with respect to the rotary axis of the cylinder.

10. The clothes processing machine of claim 9, and wherein said valve comprises a solenoid valve mounted on the casing and the means to open the valve includes a source of current, a switch having an inwardly projecting operating element engageable with said cam, and circuit means connecting said source of current to said solenoid valve through said switch.

1]. The clothes processing machine of claim 5, and wherein said machine is provided with a hinged support plate, said valve and said follower means being mounted on said hinged support plate, said support plate being at times swingable away from a position wherein the follower means can engage said cam.

12. The clothes processing machine of claim 11, and means to releasably lock the hinged support plate in said position wherein the follower means can engage said cam.

13. The clothes processing machine of claim 1, and wherein said nozzle is located in a radial plane at an angles spaced from the vertical plane of the axis of rotation of the tumbler cylinder, said cylinder being rotatable in opposite directions, a second inwardly directed injection nozzle mounted on the machine on the opposite side of said vertical plane substantially symmetrically with respect to said first-named nozzle, and means to selectively connect said source to one or the other of said nozzles responsive to the registration of said injection aperture therewith, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the cylinder.

14. The clothes processing machine of claim 13, and wherein said nozzles are located at angles spaced approximately 30 on opposite sides of said vertical plane. 

1. In a clothes processing machine, a rotating clothes tumbler cylinder, said cylinder being formed with an injection aperture spaced from the cylinder axis, an inwardly directed injection nozzle mounted on the machine substantially at the same radial distance from the tumbler cylinder axis as said aperture and being at times registrable with said injection aperture during the rotation of said cylinder, a source of textile treatment solution under injection pressure, and means to communicatively connect said source to said nozzle responsive to the registration of said injection aperture with said nozzle, whereby to spray textile treatment solution into the cylinder.
 2. The clothes processing machine of claim 1, and wherein the means to communicatively connect the source to the nozzle includes a valve, and means to open said valve when the nozzle registers with the aperture.
 3. The clothes processing machine of claim 1, and wherein said nozzle is located in a radial plane at a substantial angle beyond the vertical plane of the axis of rotation of the tumbler cylinder in the direction of rotation of the cylinder.
 4. The clothes processing machine of claim 3, and wherein said angle is approximately 30*.
 5. The clothes processing machine of claim 2, and wherein the means to open said valve comprises a cam on the tumbler cylinder and valve-opening follower means on the machine operatively connected to said valve and located to engage said cam when the nozzle registers with said injection aperture.
 6. The clothes processing machine of claim 5, and wherein said cam is located adjacent said injection aperture.
 7. The clothes processing machine of claim 5, and wherein said tumbler cylinder is provided with a front annular flange, said injection aperture being located in said flange and said cam being mounted on said flange.
 8. The clothes processing machine of claim 7, and wherein said aperture comprises an arcuate slot coaxial with the cylinder and said cam is located adjacent and substantially parallel to said slot.
 9. The clothes processing machine of claim 8, and wherein said cam is substantially angularly coextensive with said slot with respect to the rotary axis of the cylinder.
 10. The clothes processing machine of claim 9, and wherein said valve comprises a solenoid valve mounted on the casing and the means to open the valve includes a source of current, a switch having an inwardly projecting operating element engageable with said cam, and circuit means connecting said source of current to said solenoid valve through said switch.
 11. The clothes processing machine of claim 5, and wherein said machine is provided with a hinged support plate, said valve and said follower means being mounted on said hinged support plate, said support plate being at times swingable away from a position wherein the follower means can engage said cam.
 12. The clothes processing machine of claim 11, and means to releasably lock the hinged support plate in said position wherein the follower means can engage said cam.
 13. The clothes processing machine of claim 1, and wherein said nozzle is located in a radial plane at an angles spaced from the vertical plane of the axis of rotation of the tumbler cylinder, said cylinder being rotatable in opposite directions, a second inwardly directed injection nozzle mounted on the machine on the opposite side of said vertical plane substantially symmetrically with respect to said first-named nozzle, and means to selectively connect said source to one or the other of said nozzles responsive to the registration of said injection aperture therewith, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the cylinder.
 14. The clothes processing machine of claim 13, and wherein said nozzles are located at angles spaced approximately 30* on opposite sides of said Vertical plane. 